Details

The monument includes the remains of a small multivallate hillfort with an
internal area of c.2ha situated on a small but steep sided promontory at the
southern end of Kinver Edge. The earthwork ramparts include two substantial
cross-banks which curve north west to south east across the neck of the spur
to terminate at either end on precipitous natural slopes; these form the east
side of the hillfort. Around the remaining three sides of the promontory the
site relies solely on the natural steepness of the hill for defence. The
overall dimensions of the hillfort are therefore 230m east to west by 160m
north to south. The ramparts have been considerably reduced in height and
spread by the action of ploughing over the years so that today the uphill,
more southerly bank, stands 0.5m high on its uphill side, 1.7m on its
downhill side and is spread to 28m wide. Below this bank is a 21m wide berm
which merges with the lower bank to fall 1.7m to the natural hillslope. In
their original form there would have been two banks with a ditch between. The
lower half of a rotary quern, belonging to the Iron Age period and used for
grinding grain to make flour, has been found on the site.
The fence around the radar installations and the structures and ground within
it are totally excluded from the scheduling. All metalled surfaces are
excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Small multivallate hillforts are defined as fortified enclosures of varying
shape, generally between 1 and 5ha in size and located on hilltops. They are
defined by boundaries consisting of two or more lines of closely set
earthworks spaced at intervals of up to 15m. These entirely surround the
interior except on sites located on promontories, where cliffs may form one or
more sides of the monument. They date to the Iron Age period, most having been
constructed and occupied between the sixth century BC and the mid-first
century AD. Small multivallate hillforts are generally regarded as settlements
of high status, occupied on a permanent basis. Recent interpretations suggest
that the construction of multiple earthworks may have had as much to do with
display as with defence. Earthworks may consist of a rampart alone or of a
rampart and ditch which, on many sites, are associated with counterscarp banks
and internal quarry scoops. Access to the interior is generally provided by
one or two entrances, which either appear as simple gaps in the earthwork or
inturned passages, sometimes with guardrooms. The interior generally consists
of settlement evidence including round houses, four and six post structures
interpreted as raised granaries, roads, pits, gullies, hearths and a variety
of scattered post and stake holes. Evidence from outside numerous examples of
small multivallate hillforts suggests that extra-mural settlement was of a
similar nature. Small multivallate hillforts are rare with around 100 examples
recorded nationally. Most are located in the Welsh Marches and the south-west
with a concentration of small monuments in the north-east. In view of the
rarity of small multivallate hillforts and their importance in understanding
the nature of settlement and social organisation within the Iron Age period,
all examples with surviving archaeological remains are believed to be of
national importance.

The small multivallate hillfort west of Solcum Farm survives well despite
ploughing over many years and is a good example of the class. Archaeological
material will survive in the interior of the site as indicated by the find of
part of an Iron Age rotary quern on the site. Environmental evidence relating
to the landscape in which the site was constructed will survive on the old
land surface sealed beneath the banks and in the ditch fill. Such hillforts
when considered in relationship to adjacent monuments, such as the similar
hillfort at the northern end of Kinver Edge, provide important information
concerning the settlement pattern, social structure and economy of the area
during the Iron Age.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
SMR Record 08203,

Source: Historic England